Osama bin Laden is Dead!

Short Version




Over the years I have managed to convince myself that Osama bin Laden must be dead. An ailing old man having insufficient kidney function could not have survived the perils of frequent traveling and that too by avoiding security forces now present at every nook and corner of my homeland Pakistan. I am somehow bewildered to know that he was still alive and living in the suburbs of PMA Kakul in Abbotabad for the last many years,  an institution visited by the Army Chief of Pakistan maintaining  seventh largest army of the world and other Military and Intelligence high ups frequently. We should not blame our security forces for an Intelligence failure or feel uncomfortable, Americans too had an operational Air Base in the suburbs near Ghazi-Tarbela.

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Is Baitullah Mehsud dead? Is it official yet?

I am afraid we won't be able to confirm this very soon as not very surprisingly the govt. of Pakistan has no established writ in that very area of Baitullah's stronghold. I wonder if the credit of his death will be taken by Mr. Rehman Malik or not. I am afraid that with this aerial attack our govt. has reached on the threshold of declaring the responsibility of not this but all drone attacks.

I doubt if this will bring an end to the long strain of seemingly desperate unending suicidal attacks in my homeland Pakistan.

Terrorists at Liberty; Video Footage

Another bad day for sports in Pakistan. I can't find words to describe this henious act of terrorism. I wonder if those were Muslims. The way they killed the traffic warden was just unthinkable. A poor man murdered in cold blood.

Can we boycott Israel?

Can we really boycott the Zionist entity spelled Israel?

The truth is more complicated than thought. This campaign cannot just simply overwhelm the Muslim world in a flash which is already at the mercy of Zionist multinationals. I am afraid a lot more was needed to be done by our ancestors to make this movement successful in the form of providing alternatives.

Being a Project Engineer whose job description mainly comprises of procurement of earth moving equipment and associated spares the answer has become more complicated after seeing CATERPILLAR in the list. At present I am involved in the technical evaluation of Pipelayers and Track Type Tractors which are just another name of CATERPILLAR pipeline laying equipment. Can I rob my company or my country to be more precise of the legendary trustworthy services provided by CAT just to accomplish my insanely innocent craving or more accurately brief hysteria of boycotting Israel? Other options are products of Chinese and Russian origin which by no way can contend the already mentioned CAT brand earth moving equipment. Isn't it better to put together products that can surpass the yield of Zionist regime in terms of quality instead of just getting indulged in this foolish prohibit that will unquestionably transport more dilemma for us?

Other similar Zionist products in the list are "IBM, Intel, Nokia, Motorola and Siemens.

This doesn't mean that we cannot just take the brunt of boycotting Israel for the fear of getting poorer which we already are. We can still shun McDonalds, Nestle, CNN, Disney, Arsenal Football Club, cK, Hugo Boss, Giorgio Armani, Revlon, Johnson & Johnson and a lot more similar brands making our lives simpler and easier. Such a campaign may also help lighten the burden on the debt sickened economy of our country.

Bari Eid Mubarak

The Exact amount of FITRANA / SADAQAT-ul-FITR ?

I am still fairly perplexed concerning the precise amount of Fitrana which is enjoined on me.

According to Mufti Munib ur Rehaman, the official moon watcher of Pakistan, it amounts to the market price of 2.25 kilograms FLOUR and is calculated at Rs. 60 for the year 2008. For those who want to pay equal to the price of Khajoor (Dates) and Kishmish (Dried Grapes) it equals to Rs. 450 and 550 respectively.

Some articulate that the Prophet (SAWS) prescribed the amount of Sadaqat-ul-Fitr as a sa'a of staple food stuffs (rice, dates etc.). A sa'a is a unit of measurement equal to 4 handfuls of an average man. As such, the exact weight differs based on the foodstuff in question.

It is also said that the prescribed amount of Sadaqat-ul-Fitr is 1.75 Kilograms of WHEAT or its value in money. This amount is prescribed for paying Sadaqat-ul-Fitr for one person only.

The most bona fide in this regard is probably a Hadith quoted by Bukshar, "Ibn Umar said, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) made the charity of the Fitr – one sa' of dates or one sa' of barley – obligatory on every Muslim, Slave or freeman, male or female, minor or junior, and ordered that it should be paid before people go out for prayer." The sa' was an Arab measure weighing about 3.8 kilograms. Under the present circumstances, a price of 3.8 kg of wheat will be the right amount of Fitrana for each person.

Considering that giving Fitrana is an act of thankfulness towards Allah for having enabled us to observe the fasts of Ramadan we are not supposed to leave any means while spending in the name of God. Especially when it is already understood that the amount of Fitrana purifies us from any shortcomings during the month.

It is a Sunnah that the Sadaqat-ul-Fitr is paid before performing the Eid prayer. It can also be paid before the Eid day, but it is not advisable to delay it up to the performance of Eid prayer. However, if a person has failed to pay on its proper time, he should pay it as soon as possible, whereby the obligation will stand discharged.

The most deserving people for Sadaqat-ul-Fitr are close relatives followed by neighbors and the poor. Sadaqat-ul-Fitr should be paid only to a person who is entitled to receive Zakat.

Now here arises another question that who must pay Fitrana.

Some say it is incumbent on every free Muslim who possesses enough basic foodstuffs to feed himself and his family for the duration of one day and one night. A Muslim must pay zakah al-fitr on behalf of himself, his wife, children and any dependants.

While others iterate that it is an obligation for every Muslim, male or female, who owns 613.35 grams of silver or its equivalent (52.50 tolas of silver or 7.50 tolas of gold), either in the form of money, ornaments, stock-in-trade, or in the form of some goods or commodities beyond one's normal needs.

Sadaqat-ul-Fitr is obligated on each adult male or female separately, and the relevant adult person himself is responsible to pay it. The husband is not required to pay Sadaqat-ul-Fitr on behalf of his wife nor is the wife supposed to pay it on behalf of her husband. Similarly, a father is not bound to pay Sadaqat-ul-Fitr on behalf of his adult children or vice-versa. However, if the head of the family, by his own free will, wishes to pay Sadaqat-ul-Fitr for each one of the members of his family, he should seek their authorization for that purpose. In this case the Sadaqat-ul-Fitr paid by him will be valid on their behalf. If he did not pay the Sadaqat-ul-Fitr on behalf of any of the members of his family, he will not be responsible for it. Rather, it is the duty of every adult member of the family to discharge his own obligation or to request the head of the family to pay it on his or her behalf.

The Sadaqat-ul-Fitr is not necessary on behalf of a child who was born after the break of dawn in the Eid day, nor is it necessary to pay Sadaqat-ul-Fitr on behalf of a person who dies before the dawn of the Eid day.

Summing it up,

Zakat-ul-Fitr (also known as Fitrana) is an amount of charity -- in the form of staple foodstuffs -- that all Muslims with the means are required to pay at the conclusion of Ramadan.

Zakat-ul-Fitr money is used to purchase basic foodstuffs (the exact type dependant on the country in question and what is common in the local diet) which is then distributed to the poor and needy in time for Eid.

Change of Plans, saved the Prime Minister & President of Pakistan!

The Prime Minister and President of Pakistan were scheduled to dine at Marriott on 9/20, the day things shook. Only the last minute change in plans saved the top leadership of Pakistan. I don't understand how'd on earth those terrorists made out that the top brass of country will be in Marriott.

This is further reaffirmed by the finding that the Dumper reached the hotel from the Constitution Avenue side after making its inroads from the Margalla Road. If Prime Minister House was the target it could have moved there easily. With this comes to the fore another alarming discovery that a 6x4 truck laden with high explosives easily made its access to the maximum declared security zone of our country.

Moreover, if the venue was changed on intelligence reports then there should at least be increased deployment of security forces around the ill fated hotel. Innocent citizens should not have been left to die at the hands of these pseudo islamists.
Things are going enormously wrong.

CCTV Footage of Suicide Blast at Marriott, Islamabad

My final year project in University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore was Design of a Solid Fuel Rocket Motor and I can tell you with 100% surety that the terrorists have now gained hardcore technical know how of explosives. They are using Aluminum Powder which is employed to increase the potency of explosives.

The footage is quite disturbing. It seemed that precious lives could have been saved provided that there was an efficient fire fighting mechanism installed at the entrance of the ill fated hotel. Moreover, the Dumper, a 6x4 Primemover, probably Nissan V8 with 300+ hp appear from the Constitution Avenue side. It must have travelled on the Margalla Road and made its approach from the road adjoining a park nearby (haunted hill park). There is a slight possibility that it may have been parked at some hidden place a day or two earlier to carry out the mission later as entrance of Large Trucks is prohibited in Islamabad before 22:00 PST.

This analysis is based upon my familiarity of the area as I have carried out rerouting of a high pressure gas pipeline near Kulsoom Plaza underpass more or less two years back.

The national assembly speaker had arranged a dinner for the entire leadership, for the president, prime minister and armed services chiefs at the Marriott that day," interior ministry chief Rehman Malik told reporters.
The president and the prime minister changed the venue to the prime minister's house. The function was not held at the Marriott, thus the whole leadership was saved," Mr Malik added.

Marriot and many loved ones are no more

Today is another sad day in the history of Pakistan. Something very terrible has just happened in Marriot, Islamabad.

Eyewitness are coming forward with varying accounts of the tragedy. To me and a lot of others it does not matter anymore. It is just the chaos which spreads after such an occurrence.

I do not know what to say. Can not find words to describe the accident. Fireball is consuming the structure. Marriot, the signature of community culture in Islamabad is no more. Do not know how many are still trapped inside.

Apparently two vehicles were used for this heinous crime against humanity. However, it seems to me that the person in the first vehicle figured out that something very bad is just going to happen. That's why he entered the vicinity and tried to warn people to run for their lives. The truck loaded with explosives may have managed to enter one of the higher security zones of Islamabad under the cover of construction crews involved in the construction of different avenues and interchanges of the capital city.

No VIP was killed. No big fish was killed. Rehman Malik must have breathed the sigh of relief on this. The primary target seems to me was the Iftar hosted by the President where all the top machinery of Pakistan was present at the time of explosion.

No doubt it is time to differentiate terrorists and pseudo hardliner islamist extremists from innocent moderate easygoing masses of our country, Pakistan. BBC, CNN and other international media groups are running extraordinary coverage of the carnage place. It was no doubt 9/11 of Pakistan. A lot of foreign nationals are among the innocents who died in this incident.

Some tenderer moments of my life are no more. It was the place where I had spent some soothing moments of life. The cozy atmosphere of the place used to rejuvenate my otherwise famished soul in the chilling Saturday nights of the sleeping city. I might not be able to visit the place once again.

The Compendium of Sehr & Iftar deals in Lahore, 2008

The month of fasting has just started and Lahoris are already jotting down their sehr and iftar plans in their organisers. Despite the high inflation, it seems as though Lahories have not compromised on dining out.

Some of the Iftar Deals being offered in Lahore are as follows;

Salt 'n Pepper Village

The restaurant is a popular dining spot for Lahoris and it is offering a SEHR buffet for Rs 390. An IFTAR plus DINNER buffet is for Rs 750, while the REGULAR DINNER BUFFET, after iftar, is for Rs 690.

Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC)

Lahoris have taken a liking to this fast food outlet because of its chicken meals. KFC has three special Ramazan deals. The VALUE DEAL for IFTAR includes a zinger, a chicken piece and a drink for Rs 300. The FAMILY DEAL, which is generally available for Rs 900 has been made available for Rs 700. The SEHR DEAL is available for Rs 300 and is available from 2am to till SEHR.

Ziafat

This eatery is offering an IFTAR plus DINNER buffet for Rs 670, while a DINNER BUFFET is offered for Rs 620.

Nando's

Nando's is offering three special Ramazan deals. A quarter chicken is available for Rs 300, steak for Rs 350 and a half-chicken for Rs 400.

Pizza Hut

Pizza Hut has also arranged special iftar and sehr packages for Ramazan. It offers an IFTAR BUFFET for Rs 388 (exclusive of tax). It is offering three packages for SEHR; a personal pan pizza with a soft drink for Rs 160, a regular pizza with two soft drinks for Rs 320 and a large pizza with a 1.5 litre bottle or pitcher of a soft drink (all packages are exclusive of taxes).

Although the eateries mentioned above only manage to scratch the surface of Lahore's vast list of eateries, they are amongst the most frequented by Lahoris during Ramazan. There is ample time to get together with friends or family and book a table at any one of the above-mentioned places for either sehr or iftar or both.

Eatout	Deal	Charges
Zaiqa	Iftar Buffet Dinner,	425+tax
Dera	Iftar Buffet Dinner,	490+tax
Hsin Kuang	Iftar Buffet Dinner	520+tax
Al-Nakhal	Iftar Buffet Dinner	495+tax
SiChuan	Iftar Buffet Dinner	510+tax
Mirchi	Iftar Buffet Dinner	620+tax
Memories	Iftar Buffet Dinner	620+tax
Windmills	Iftar Buffet Dinner	580+tax
Arizona Grill	Iftar Buffet Dinner	695+tax
Tia Maria	Iftar Buffet Dinner	550+tax
Dhaba	Sehri Buffet	395+tax
	Iftar Buffet Dinner	525+tax
Freddys Cafe	Iftar Buffet Dinner	895+tax
Bonfire	Small Pizza and Drink	199+tax
	Medium Pizza and Drink	299+tax
	Large Pizza and Drink	399+tax
Kaps Cafe	Iftar cum Dinner	425+tax
Pasta & Pizza	Eat all till you Fall from 47 varieties of real traditional Italian Pizza	550+tax
Pizza Hut	Eat All You Can, Pizzas, Salads, Soft Drinks	388+tax
Pizza Next	All you can Eat, Pizzas, Salads, Soft Drinks	389+tax
	Deal 1, Small Pizza and Soft Drink	785+tax
	Deal 2, Medium Pizza and I litre Soft Drink	285+tax
	Deal 3, Large Pizza and 1.5 litre Soft Drink	385+tax
Golden Work	Iftar Buffet Dinner	520+tax
Hot Fuzon Lounge	Sandwich Plater, Iftar Platter, Rooh Afza, Choice of any Sandwiches or Burgers, Tea	389+tax
	Rice / Pasta Platter, Iftar Platter, Rooh Afza, Choice of a Rice Platter or Pasta, Tea	479+tax
	Main Course / Grill Chicken or Beef Steaks, Iftar Platter, Rooh Afza, Choice of any Main Course From the Grill, Tea.	549+tax
The Lotus	Iftar Deal, Chicken Samosa 2, Golden Fried Chicken 2, Chicken Sandwich 2, Vegetable Spring Roll 1, Shami Kabab 2, Fruit Chat 1, Chicken Wings 2, Pakora 3, Dates 4	200+tax
Shanghai	Iftar Buffet Chinese and Oriental cuisines	379+tax
Moods	Iftar Buffet	499+tax
ZeGrill	Iftar Only iftar offering more than 10 dishes, with BBQ wings, cheese naan and a variety of sandwiches as top menu picks	229+tax
	Iftar Cum Dinner	429+tax
	Along with iftar deal, main course dishes and desserts are also included; with more than 15 dishes to choose among, and almost 5 various dessert types.
	Buffet without Iftar Without iftar buffet, if you want to have only buffet dinner, we would offer more than 15 dishes and 5 various desserts	399+tax
Time and Taste	Iftar Buffet	610+tax
Sholay Restaurant	Ramadan Family Deal Deal for 4 person offering Chicken Karahi, Seekh Kabab, Salad, Naan Raita & soft drinks.	500+tax
Saddle Ranch	Combo SELECT ANY BURGER OR SANDWITCH FROM OUR MENU WITH SPANISH MARGARITA OF SOFT DRINK AND TEA OR COFFEE.	249+tax
Lasania	Ramzan Package	450+tax

Musharaf Resigned; Impeachment Deffered?

Attn: This is not a very well composed post. I found it tough to narrate something.

Pakistani Nation is celebrating the exit of another of its Head of the State. Last time they celebrated in this fashion on 12th October, 1999. They had waited for this glorious moment for almost 9 years. Let's see what comes next. Is he leaving for Saudi Arabia to return after 10 years? I wonder if he has the resources to build a royal palace in Saudi Oasis or in English Counties.

Honestly speaking I have mixed feelings over his departure and am neither happy nor sad. To me he was a person of the same caliber as was Bhutto and BB. The only thing wrong with him was that he was from a middle class family and not part of the legacy of a feudal. He impressed me a lot in his frequent televised public addresses during the better and initial phase of his tenure. To be precise i don't see any other ICON capable of doing so such good and equally bad to the country as he did. He truly was a man capable of standing against the now vibrant media. Recent foreign visit of our Siraiki Prime Minister clearly depicts what is in the pipeline.

Anyhow, no one is here to last forever. Now its up to us to find an alternative to heir the legacy left by Musharraf. I wonder if the present political alliance which already is in fast forward state to the finish line is capable enough to own the War against Terrorism or stand guard the much talked about supreme national interest.

Is it clear that we do not want a puppet President.

Shabe-Barat - The Night of Deliverance

Shab-e-Barat or the night of Emancipation is celebrated on the 15th Night of Shaaban (the 8th Islamic month) by Muslims. It is a night of seeking forgiveness and repenting to Almighty Allah. Muslim devotees spend the night at mosques and houses, offering special prayers. They also hold milad, visit the graves of their near and dear ones and offer prayers for the peace of the departed souls.
The significant distinction of this night, according to Islamic belief, is that all births and deaths on universe for the forthcoming year are written on “Loh-e-Mehfooz”.

Though in the Islamic perspective every night and day has its own importance but some nights have supplementary importance. For example, Lailatul Qadar, Lailatul Miraj, Ashura and the two nights of Eids had extraordinary significance. On the occasion of Shab-e-Barat, Muslims believe, God Almighty showers infinite Mercy and Blesses upon human beings. It is also the night to help the poor and distressed people, to respond to beg mercy and forgiveness from Allah Almighty, the religious clerics believed.

Sweet dishes like Halwa, Kheer and Zarda are cooked and distributed among people. The children celebrate this night in a joyous manner and are seen in the streets with sparklers, skyrockets and small crackers. Houses, shops and other buildings are decorated with colorful lights and diyas (terracotta oil lamps).

Lailat al Miraj (27 Rajab)

Glimpses of History

The beauty and tranquility of the Noble Sanctuary in Jerusalem attracts thousands of visitors of all faiths every year. Many believe it was the site of the Temple of Solomon, peace be upon him, destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC, or the site of the Second Temple, completely destroyed by the Romans in 70AD.

For Muslims the area has a special significance, as the site of the Prophet Muhammad's Night Journey, peace and blessings be upon him, and as the first qibla (direction of prayer) for Islam.

The Night Journey

Glory be to He
Who carried His servant by night,
from the Holy Mosque
to the Furthest Mosque,
the precincts of which
We have blessed.
so that We might show him
some of Our signs.
Surely He is the All-Hearing,
the All-Seeing.
Sura al-Isra'
Qur'an 17:1

In the ninth year of the Prophet's mission, about 620 AD, Muhammad rose in the middle of the night to visit the Sacred Mosque in Makkah. After a time of worship he fell asleep near the Ka'aba. The angel Gabriel came to him and woke him from his slumber. He led the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, to the edge of the sacred Makkan mosque. Awaiting them was al-Buraq, a white winged beast "whose each stride stretched as far as the eye could see." Muhammad mounted al-Buraq and sped northwards with Gabriel to Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, the Furthest Mosque.

When they reached Jerusalem the Prophet dismounted and prayed near the Rock. Abraham, Moses, Jesus and other prophets, peace be upon them all, gathered together to pray behind him. Muhammad was presented a vessel of wine and a vessel of milk. The Prophet chose the milk and Gabriel said, 'You have chosen the true religion'.

The Prophet then embarked on the ascension (Miraj) in which he, peace and blessings be upon him, received the command to pray five times a day and the revelation encapsulating the beliefs of Islam:

"The Messenger believes in what was sent down to him from his Lord. And the believers; each one believes in Allah and His angels and in His books and His messengers. We make no division between any one of His messengers. And they say: We hear and we obey. Oh Lord, grant us Thy forgiveness; unto Thee we return."
Qur'an II/285